Last week I finally made it over to La Grande, Oregon to checkout the RV Parks and other facilities in the Grande Ronde Valley. I am glad I waited it was a beautiful drive and the valley was greener and prettier than I remembered.

As you may know, if you are following my blog, I went to High School and graduated from Imbler which is a small town about 5 miles north of La Grande. I left Imbler, La Grande and the Grand Ronde Valley in 1966 when I went into the Navy. Except for about two weeks boot camp leave I haven't really been back to the area since. My folks had moved to Wallowa, Oregon while I was over seas serving on the USS Providence CLG-6. Then while I was again over seas serving in Yokohoma, Japan they had moved again over to Emmett, Idaho which is where they remained until I retired from the Navy in 1994.

So it is with some excitement that I am looking forward to spending the summer in La Grande. Before the scouting trip I was planning on also spending a month or so in Baker, Oregon and a month in Ontario, Oregon. While on the trip I found out that Baker, Oregon still has only 1X internet available from my primary Internet provider Verizon. That connection speed is too slow for my business except for very short stays so I decided to just spend the entire summer in La Grande.

After looking the area over I am anxious to see some of my old stomping grounds. A couple of places looked pretty much as I remember them. "Nells-N-Out" which is a drive through Hamburger, Fries and Cold Drink place is still there and looks pretty much as I remember it. Though it did seem to have a fresh new coat of paint and a little darker in color than I remember.

I also stopped in for a couple of beers at Bud Jacksons Sportsman Bar & Grill which is pretty much as I remember it as well. A couple of places I didn't see which means they are gone is the Tropicana. The Tropicana was the only night club in La Grande that I remember. The Arctic Circle is gone and it was a favorite place of mine for getting a Milk Shake. And the A & W Root Beer Drive In is gone. Both the Arctic Circle and the A & W Root Beer Drive In were hang outs for us before, during and after cruising main. Well in the case of La Grande it was Adams Ave.

Anyway, I am looking forward to spending some time there this summer. I don't really expect to meet anyone I new from back in the early sixties but I suppose it is possible.

I will be departing Meridian and the Boise area next week on Thursday. It is only about a four hour drive over to La Grande, so I will arrive the same day.

I will probably write another posting just before departing which will be a kind of after action report or summary for my stay here in the Treasure Valley.